SORE BROKEN July 10, 2020

The big national news this day is the denial of the renewal of the franchise of one of our country’s biggest media network.  It is a sad day for many, especially those of us who always find time to watch their shows like the evening news and daily dramas.  Many are decrying what they call the suppression of press freedom, deprivation of what they believe is quality entertainment, and the politicking of regulatory agencies, while our honorable lawmakers who voted against their renewal are holding up cases of what they consider abuses and excesses of the same media company in propagating sensational and slanderous news items that violate the rights to privacy and respect on those involved, and its blatant disregard for regulatory laws in broadcasting and maintaining channels and stations beyond what it is allowed.  It is indeed a contentious issue, and only time will tell how the parties and those affected can move on and do their best to uphold what they believe is right, and to fulfill their rightful obligations and responsibilities to society.

Meanwhile in the land of KPop and KDrama, we hear of the sad passing, presumably by suicide, of the mayor of one of the world’s megacities.  They said this happened a day after he was publicly accused of sexual harassment by several former and current staff, plus there are other so-called corruption issues.  If this is all true, it is also a sad day for the people there when even a top official had to cowardly take his own life instead of facing up to the consequences of his actions if true, or to vigorously defend his rights and proclaim his innocence if the accusations against him are not true, for the sake of the constituents he swore to serve.

Across from them, to both the east and west, we hear of news reports of extreme rains ravaging Asia’s number one and number two countries, with hundreds of thousands displaced, countless homes and properties washed away and destroyed, and many casualties, not to mention the threat that the cases of those who fall positive to CoViD-19 will again rise due to the weather condition and the proximity of those relocated in public gyms and other relocation areas, in spite of 1 to 2 meter social distancing.

Farther across the Pacific, one item that caught my attention this day is the proclamation of the President of the world’s police nation that if classes in their universities will all shift online, that there will no more be student visas to be issued to foreign students, meaning that they will all have to be deported back to their home countries if they do not voluntarily go home.  Because of this and the effect it will have on their curriculum, endowment sources of funds, and total overhaul of school and student administration and affairs, two of the most prestigious and respected hundreds-year-old universities I admire filed a suit against their very own national leader.

It seems wherever we look around us, the world is in deep trouble as it is, with many lives and spirits seemingly losing hope and confidence, looking at the future filled with anxiety and fear, and having their hearts and minds broken.  Everything is accelerating, and problems abound, so that the ordinary person has nowhere to turn to for proper perspective.  As children of GOD though, we are grateful for the Word of GOD which shows us the right backdrop as to why these things are happening now, simultaneously.

The Word today is on the book of Psalms, chapter 38, and in the KJV it is entitled, “A Psalm of David, To Call to Remembrance.” Maybe during the great shepherd-king’s time, when he was faced with troubles all around, these were the same hymns and prayers he called to mind in order not to forget GOD’s goodness, and to always have hope that things will work out well.

We read that the king acknowledged that because of his wrongdoings, bad things have happened to him.  He recognized that it is because of his sins that his spirit is broken, he has no more rest that penetrates deep within his being, he is bowed down in trouble, his heart is disquieted, his flesh is unsound like he is having a loathsome disease or stinking wound, his strength has failed, and the light of his eyes has gone.  He stated that even friends, lovers and kinsmen abandon and stay away from him.

But in his case though, he called on GOD to hear him, trusting Him as his only hope, and to forgive him as he acknowledged his wrongdoing and resolved to change his ways.  He appealed that GOD not forsake him, to help and save him.

Not all people around the world who are undergoing suffering nowadays believe and worship GOD in the same manner as commanded in His word, but I believe that for once, we could all do one thing that frees us from the pain and hurt we are going through.  And this is to repent of our wrongdoings and abuses, change from our wanton and wasteful ways, and resolve to live more deliberately respecting our Creator and all other beings around us, and not bringing more harm and destruction to it. 

I think that if we have the humility that the late King David lived by, GOD will surely hear us and come to our aid.  Though the world around us may fall and be destroyed, we can put our hope in Him who has promised to hear us and help us, and bring us salvation and deliverance.  Though our spirits may be sore broken with the troubles we fall victim to or see every day around us, we can trust that we have a GOD who will never forsake us but will always be there to restore us if we allow Him to work in our broken lives.